Folding table



Aug. 11, 1931. w. L. DEMING 1,818,115

FOLDING TABLE Filed April 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Flax-1 II\ I l I z 5 50 45 .7 k 27 I 9 8 3 5: FIG. 2.

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Aug. 11, 1931. w. DEMING FOLDING TABLE Filed April 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm W1. )6. AM? mflwiqmm, nz J/iw Patented Aug. 11, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM I. DEMING, OF SALEM, OHIO FOLDING TABLE Application filed April 8, 1927. Serial No. 181,933.

This invention relatesto a table construction, particularly to a folding table. The primary object is to provide a table of this sort which will be durable, which will be strong and rigid when in use, andwhich may be economically manufactured.

A specific object is to provide a simple, compact and strongtable leg support adapted for easy manipulation to fold the leg inwardly adjacent and beneath the table top.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description relating to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown my preferred form. The essential novel characteristics will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is a plan view of the table top showing a convenient number and arrangement of eXtensile receptacles in extended position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the corner construction of the table showing one of the table leg supporting devices and also one of the eX- tensible receptacles and means for support- 5 ing it; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective vlew showing the bottom side of one corner of the table and illustrating the clamping means for the table top; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view as indicated by the line 4-4 on Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 3 showing table leg support in folded position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and indicating the various parts by suitable characters, 1 indicates the metal frame of the table top comprising, as shown sectional sheet metal members in the general nature of angle sections, the top flange being indicated at 2 and the side flanges at 3. This frame as well as the whole table top may of course, comprise a single piece of pressed sheet metal. For a card table, however, I preferably provide the pressed metal top frame structure, the main portion of the top being of different material as will be pres ently shown.

The side flanges are shouldered as at 4 and brought inwardly mainly for the sake of appearance, and the inner marginal edges -may be secured thereto by welding. i portion 28 extends parallel to the portion of the top flanges 2 are preferably bent downwardly as at 5 to form slight flanges which may enter suitable grooves in the main table top member 8, such grooves being indicated at 9.

The top member if made in a separate piece may comprise any suitable material such as pulp wall board or, if desired, wood or hard pressed fibre may be used. If this top section is made of wood, the top surfaces may be stained and finished within the confines of the marginal flanges 2 which overlie the top member as shown in Fig. ,3. If material such as wall board is used, this board may be covered with material, such for example as felt or imitation leather, a layer of such material being shown at 10,

in Fig. 6, extending over the top and beneath the slight flange 5. The slight flange 5 by reason of having a fairly close fit in the groove serves to place a sharp bend in thecovering material 10 to hold it in place against creeping. If no covering material is used the flange simply serves to hold the top member from shifting relative to the frame. (See Fig.

The table leg support comprises, as shown, a bracket 25 suitably secured to the flanges 2 and 3 of the frame 1 as by spot welding or riveting, the bracketcomprising, as shown, a bent sheet metal member having a horizontal base 26, adapted to be secured to the upper frame flange 2, and vertically extending bracket portions 27, ,28 and 29. The

portions 27 he flat against the lower portion: a

of the flange 3 (beyond the shoulder 4) and The 27 and the portion 29 lies flat against and may be welded to the upper portion of the flange 3 and may rest against the shoulder 4: to provide additional bracing. The portions 27 and 28 of the bracket are suit- .ably apertured to receive a pin 30 for pivotally supporting the table leg. The top of the leg comprises a tubular sleeve or ferdisposed peripheral surfaces of the sleeve .36 for short distances,'the clips'having neck portions 32 embracing the pin 30. One of these neck portions may carry a cotter pin 33 which extends through the pin 30 and prevents its removal. The major portion 5 of the leg may be made of any suitable material such as wood.

As shown in Fig. 1 a short section of such major portion 35 is reduced in diameter to fit the sleeve 31 and the pivot pin 30 extends through this reduced portion to prevent the removal of the leg. If desired, the leg may be formed by continuing the sleeve 36, that is to say a single piece metal tube 70 may serve for the entire leg, as shown in Fig. 9. I

For latching the sleeve in two positions, namely, with the legs extending straight downwardly from the table or folded in against the bottom of the table, I preferably provide the latching device shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and This latch comprises a plunger %0 suitably secured in cars 41 bent laterally from the material comprising the sleeve as shown particularly in 35 Figs. 4 and 5. These ears are perforated to receive the plunger and one is provided with :1 lug 42 entering the slot a3 in the plunger for preventin the rotation of the )lungeri The 'free end of the plunger may ave a knob '01 laterally extending arm such as shown at 45 for manual manipulation. Suitable means for holding the plunger in engagenren't with catch recesses 4L6 and 18 in the bracket 25 may comprise a coil spring 50 one end of which enters an opening 50a in the plunger intermediately of the ears 41, the other end of which rests against the ear remote from the recess in such manner as to normally act to hold the plunger in engager'nent with the selected recess. The re cess 46 as shown, is very shallow, for the reason that it is desirable to fold the legs without having to manipulate the plunger,

but the recess 18 is considerably deeper and '45 may, in fact, extend all the way through the portion '27 of the bracket in such manner that when the plunger is once seated in this recess it will effectively hold the leg in extended position and prevent the accidental 50 collapse of the table.

It will be noted that by the arrangement iifGWIif'tnfi easily reached for manipulation and that it is at no time positioned beyond the general 5 plane of the bottom edges 3a of the frame 1, since, because the plunger is prevented from rotation, the projection 45 will turn down with the table leg when the table leg is turned down and will lie parallel with it.

It will be further noted that as the leg is swung downwardly, the bottom edges of the sleeve at least at one side ofthe pivot rest snugly 'on the floor portion 26 of the bracket 25. This is illustrated in broken 55 lines in Fig. 1 wherein the ears 41 are shown as in close contact with this floor portion 26. This lends additional rigidity to the table by further preventing wobbling of the legs.

I am aware that folding table leg supports of this general character have been previously used. However, by the particular arrangementshown, the legs are very rigidly supported when extended and the whole device is very compact, comparatively simple to manufacture, and easy to operate.

I claim":

1. In a folding table, a top having a de- 'pei'idii'i'g flange at its edge, a U-shaped bracket secured to the top, a tubular legsupporting member, a leg having a shank fitting within the leg supporting member, a pin supported by the bracket and extending through the leg-supporting member and leg shank, and for locking them together and pivoting them to the bracket and means for locking the leg-supporting member with the leg either folded or extended.

2. In a folding table, a top having a depending flange at its edge, a U-shaped bracket secured to the top, a tubular legsupporting member, a leg having a shank fitting within the leg supporting member, a pin supported by the bracket and extending through the leg-supportmg IILBIIIUUL' anu leg shank, and a spring pressed plunger carried by the leg-supporting member on the opposite side from the leg, whereby said plunger is readily accessible when the leg is in folded position and is shielded from accidental contact when the leg is extended.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

WM. L. DEMING. 

